Taft Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Heroin

Taft Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Heroin

FRESNO, CA—David Edward Hampton Jr., 34, of Taft, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neil to 10 years and one month in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.

According to court documents, in February 2014, agents learned that Hampton had mailed a package to Rapid City, South Dakota from Taft. It was believed that the package was destined for one of Hampton’s methamphetamine distributors. The package was intercepted and found to contain approximately 444 grams of methamphetamine. On March 24, 2014, Hampton mailed another package from Taft to South Dakota, which was also seized and found to contain approximately 167 grams of methamphetamine.

On March 25, 2014, a federal search warrant was executed on Hampton’s residence and agents found approximately 459 grams of methamphetamine and 16 grams of heroin. Hampton admitted that the narcotics seized from his residence were his and that he intended to distribute them for profit.

This case was the product of an investigation by the Violent Crime Task Force which includes the Bakersfield Police Department, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, the Kern County Probation Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Brian K. Delaney is prosecuting the case.